Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are bad for the environment.

What damage does plastic do to the environment?

What can be done by governments and individuals to solve this problem?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The environment is the biggest concern of today's global world. There are many things causing pollution into the environment, plastic is one of them. In today's world, there are a million things made from plastic material, such as water bottles, packaging, clothes, toys, electronics items, plastic cans and many more. These plastic materials contain toxic chemicals and therefore these are harmful to the environment. This essay will discuss damage caused by the plastic and what government and individuals can do to solve this problem.

On the one hand, plastic is harmful to humans and to the environment. First of all, plastic contains toxic materials which can cause skin problems to humans. For instance, people are buying clothes that are cheap and easily accessible. These clothes are made from plastic materials and toxic chemicals. This chemical is then observed into the human skin which creates skin allergy and other harmful diseases. Moreover, drinking water from plastic bottles can cause cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Furthermore, plastic is an indestructible item therefore even after a hundred years it will remain the same on the earth which will create a vast amount of waste which is harmful to the environment.

On the other hand, governments and individuals should take appropriate steps to solve this problem. Firstly, the government should provide the recyclable bins free in all areas so people can recycle plastic items easily and without any cost. Secondly, the government should have strict rules on plastic items so all people use it carefully. Moreover, as an individual person should take responsibility for taking care of the environment, therefore individuals should avoid the use of plastic materials in their daily life. For example, instead of a plastic water bottle they should use glass and copper material or steal water bottles. Also, people should wear cotton and other comfortable material clothes rather than buying multiple plastic material clothes. Furthermore, the government should prioritise programmes related to the environment education in the school and colleges so children can learn about the importance of the environment.

In conclusion, if the government and individual work together to solve environmental issues, success can be achieved. Therefore, I believe that the government should provide necessary steps to prevent the cause of plastic and people should follow these steps responsibly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying environmental damage and suggesting solutions for both governments and individuals. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed. For example, the discussion on toxic chemicals in clothing and the suggestion for recyclable bins provide clear, practical points. However, some arguments, such as the claim that plastic clothing causes skin allergies, are slightly over-generalized and lack scientific nuance. To reach a higher band, ensure that all claims are supported with more precise reasoning. Overall, the position is clear throughout, and the response fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all,' 'Moreover,' 'Furthermore,' and 'On the other hand' are used to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes a bit mechanical. Additionally, some referencing is slightly repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'the government' and 'plastic.' Improving the variety of transition signals and using more sophisticated referencing would enhance the flow and cohesion of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'toxic chemicals,' 'indestructible,' and 'environmental education.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'observed into the human skin' (should be 'absorbed') and 'steal water bottles' (should be 'steel'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'plastic is one of them' (referring to pollution), 'provide the recyclable bins free' (should be 'provide free recycling bins'), and 'as an individual person should take responsibility' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors in sentence construction. The control of grammar is sufficient for communication, but the frequency of errors prevents a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy will help improve this score.

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